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Author Topic: Stolen images.  (Read 21874 times)

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« on: December 29, 2018, 18:58 »
+7
I was just reading a post on Shutterstock about a suspected image thief, and started poking around his portfolio to see if I recognised anything.

Clicking on a random image showed similars, and it looks as if he took this image and flipped it

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/beautiful-waterfall-1268058418

from this contributor:

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/beautiful-waterfall-landscape-1138139069

The second contributor suspiciously had a couple of pages of very nice images with very poor titles, as if he didn't actually know where the location was, so I clicked on one of his images and he'd also taken an image from another contributor and flipped it.

This images was taken

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/fresh-green-fruit-drink-1141475009?src=uC-RhHYOgDgT8MvkiO2dVg-1-3

from here:

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/mojito-cocktail-splash-ice-151851215



And this one:

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/big-great-mountain-fuji-japan-1138139018?src=uC-RhHYOgDgT8MvkiO2dVg-1-13

from here:

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/mt-fuji-fall-colors-japan-147744140

Please check both of these ports and see if they contain any of your images


« Reply #1 on: December 29, 2018, 19:10 »
+4
It just gets worse :(

Clicking on another image from the second contributor above, i get a similar hit from yet another contributor.

This:

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/grilled-meat-on-dinner-1138138988?src=uC-RhHYOgDgT8MvkiO2dVg-1-0

is taken from here:

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/food-nd-drinks-fruits-1049190053?src=Si8QRV_HkHQdTTGVCs1rNA-1-3

The third contributor has one of those odd mix portfolios, from crap to stunning! One really caught my eye as the Mac os Sierra image!

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/nature-mountains-real-1049191538?src=Si8QRV_HkHQdTTGVCs1rNA-1-13

And that brings up similars, so he's not alone in trying to sell the Mac photo!

Go figure.....

......if this wasn't so sad I'd have a good laugh

« Reply #2 on: December 29, 2018, 19:23 »
+8
Thanks for posting these. Small ports with great variety of subjects, styles and locations certainly has all the hallmarks of stolen work.

I didn't see anything of mine, but it'd be good if someone who is an owner can complain to SS so these scumbags can have their portfolios removed. I wish they'd let third party reports be considered (it'd be easy enough for them to check it out if they actually gave a toss...)

« Reply #3 on: December 29, 2018, 19:29 »
+5
Thanks for posting these. Small ports with great variety of subjects, styles and locations certainly has all the hallmarks of stolen work.

I didn't see anything of mine, but it'd be good if someone who is an owner can complain to SS so these scumbags can have their portfolios removed. I wish they'd let third party reports be considered (it'd be easy enough for them to check it out if they actually gave a toss...)

Agreed Jo Ann,

They have the technology, as these were all spotted by just clicking around the 'similars'. I have seen them removing some portfolios recently, so they obviously are investigating reports behind the scenes. I guess all we can do is publicise our finds and hope that they take action quickly.


« Reply #4 on: December 30, 2018, 08:11 »
+1
Thanks for posting these. Small ports with great variety of subjects, styles and locations certainly has all the hallmarks of stolen work.

I didn't see anything of mine, but it'd be good if someone who is an owner can complain to SS so these scumbags can have their portfolios removed. I wish they'd let third party reports be considered (it'd be easy enough for them to check it out if they actually gave a toss...)

I think we can.

''If you believe that your copyright to an image on Shutterstock has been infringed upon, or that an image is being misused, please collect all pertinent information (including image ID's, relevant links, etc.) and contact us by email at [email protected]. We take the protection of copyright very seriously and we will investigate all complaints we receive.''

Source: https://www.shutterstock.com/contributorsupport/articles/kbat02/000006577?l=en_US&c=ContributorKB%3APortfolio_account&fs=RelatedArticle

Our watch begins  :D

Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #5 on: December 30, 2018, 08:47 »
+5
Thanks for posting these. Small ports with great variety of subjects, styles and locations certainly has all the hallmarks of stolen work.

I didn't see anything of mine, but it'd be good if someone who is an owner can complain to SS so these scumbags can have their portfolios removed. I wish they'd let third party reports be considered (it'd be easy enough for them to check it out if they actually gave a toss...)

I think we can.

''If you believe that your copyright to an image on Shutterstock has been infringed upon, or that an image is being misused, please collect all pertinent information (including image ID's, relevant links, etc.) and contact us by email at [email protected]. We take the protection of copyright very seriously and we will investigate all complaints we receive.''

Source: https://www.shutterstock.com/contributorsupport/articles/kbat02/000006577?l=en_US&c=ContributorKB%3APortfolio_account&fs=RelatedArticle

Our watch begins  :D

Just thought I'd mention , I wrote to "compliance" and got the really disappointing reply that others have reported.

Thank you for your email. Our requirements for submitting Digital Millennium Copyright Act ("DMCA") notices of infringement are below. You may send a proper notice in reply to this email. and a bunch more that indicates, only the owner can file a complaint. In other words, they don't want to know and don't want to investigate.

Hopefully [email protected] is more artist friendly.

« Reply #6 on: December 30, 2018, 11:24 »
+1
It makes sense that only copyright owners can file DMCAs. But its too bad they dont take emails from anyone reporting stealing more seriously. As has been mentioned in the past, they dont really seem to care how they make their money. They say they take copyrights seriously, but if that were true, they would be shutting down these watermark-removal-from-large-size-images thieves immediately. Look how long that has gone on and still goes on.

« Reply #7 on: December 31, 2018, 03:28 »
+4
I just contacted the original photographer of the grilled meat images - the other two have stolen it. The original is this one: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/succulent-thick-juicy-portions-grilled-fillet-138421859

Hope he can have shutterstock take the fake ports down

« Reply #8 on: December 31, 2018, 10:29 »
0
I saw a lot of photos that are on free stock photo websites on our microstock websites. I don't know if they stole them from the microstock websites since they mention the artist and you can pay the artist through a PayPal link. They are mainly on Pexels and Pixabay. Do microstock photographers themselves put them up for free on the free stock websites in the hope to earn more money there?

The same guy stole this image https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/spring-flowers-background-pink-blossom-182465339

And the following image is on the free stock photo websites: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/spring-border-background-pink-blossom-128624426

https://www.pexels.com/photo/nature-summer-spring-flower-76997/

Two different names but maybe it's the same person who knows. Who knows who steels from whom. Free stock photo websites do not allow people to download a photo and to sell it on microstock.

Uncle Pete

  • Great Place by a Great Lake - My Home Port
« Reply #9 on: December 31, 2018, 11:52 »
+1
It just gets worse :(

Clicking on another image from the second contributor above, i get a similar hit from yet another contributor.

This:

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/grilled-meat-on-dinner-1138138988?src=uC-RhHYOgDgT8MvkiO2dVg-1-0

is taken from here:

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/food-nd-drinks-fruits-1049190053?src=Si8QRV_HkHQdTTGVCs1rNA-1-3

The third contributor has one of those odd mix portfolios, from crap to stunning! One really caught my eye as the Mac os Sierra image!

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/nature-mountains-real-1049191538?src=Si8QRV_HkHQdTTGVCs1rNA-1-13

And that brings up similars, so he's not alone in trying to sell the Mac photo!

Go figure.....

......if this wasn't so sad I'd have a good laugh

Very funny, the one ID: 1049190053 "food nd drinks fruits" is taken from StockCreations 138421859 which has real English words. Uploaded 32 million images before the one from BOUDANE, who has a total of102 images, then I look at the new member, by fresh, and there are about 30 really top quality images, followed by total crap flower shots. He started with dandelions, probably didn't get any sales, so moved on to image theft.

The other Alexiy Molochnik has 178 images. That same steak again? This is the state of how terrible Microstock has become.

The original from stockcreations is part of a series of shots of the same setting and he has over 13,000 very nice food shots. Not hard to guess who made the original.



« Reply #11 on: January 03, 2019, 08:20 »
0
Isn't there anything we can do about it? Who knows who took from whom?

« Reply #12 on: January 03, 2019, 08:31 »
0
Isn't there anything we can do about it? Who knows who took from whom?

I think all we can do is post here when we see this happening, in the hopes that one of us will find our own image being stolen so that we can make the report to Shutterstock.

I've made assumptions about who took from who based upon the image ID numbers. It isn't a foolproof method but a pretty good indication, particularly when viewing the age, style and portfolios as a whole.

« Reply #13 on: January 03, 2019, 08:34 »
0
Wouldn't it help if all of us who read this here on the microstock group write to Shutterstock and report this Alexiy Molochnik and others?

« Reply #14 on: January 03, 2019, 08:50 »
+2
Wouldn't it help if all of us who read this here on the microstock group write to Shutterstock and report this Alexiy Molochnik and others?

I think others have tried that, only to be told that the owner of the original image must be the one to report the theft.


« Reply #15 on: January 03, 2019, 08:59 »
+6
That is a super lazy excuse. They should investigate that no matter who reports it. They obviously don't value their contributors. What kind of a message do they send us? That thieves and criminals are also welcome. That they don't care as long as they make money.  I am going to report that guy. No matter what the reply. We have to.

« Reply #16 on: January 03, 2019, 09:24 »
+3
That is a super lazy excuse. They should investigate that no matter who reports it. They obviously don't value their contributors. What kind of a message do they send us? That thieves and criminals are also welcome. That they don't care as long as they make money.  I am going to report that guy. No matter what the reply. We have to.

Youre absolutely correct.
They dont care. They get the assets for nothing. They havent spent the time to create them, process, keyword and upload them. What does it matter when all you do is collect the money from sales?
We take infringement seriously Empty words, thats all.

« Reply #17 on: January 03, 2019, 10:50 »
0
Isn't there anything we can do about it? Who knows who took from whom?

I think all we can do is post here when we see this happening, in the hopes that one of us will find our own image being stolen so that we can make the report to Shutterstock.

I've made assumptions about who took from who based upon the image ID numbers. It isn't a foolproof method but a pretty good indication, particularly when viewing the age, style and portfolios as a whole.


Another thing is that the internet is the land of fake identities. All those contributors could be the same person, just using different phony names.

Brasilnut

  • Author Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock & Blog

« Reply #18 on: January 03, 2019, 12:34 »
+8
Since SS won't take action, sometimes you have to hit them where it hurts...which is their main business activity.


« Reply #19 on: January 03, 2019, 12:42 »
0
Since SS won't take action, sometimes you have to hit them where it hurts...which is their main business activity.

We feel their hurt.

Brasilnut

  • Author Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock & Blog

« Reply #20 on: January 03, 2019, 12:44 »
+1
Since SS won't take action, sometimes you have to hit them where it hurts...which is their main business activity.

We feel their hurt.

If enough people give a one star rating...

« Reply #21 on: January 03, 2019, 14:02 »
+2
I see there are also FB and Twitter links, so maybe a multi-pronged attack is needed!

Brasilnut

  • Author Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock & Blog

« Reply #22 on: January 03, 2019, 14:23 »
0
I see there are also FB and Twitter links, so maybe a multi-pronged attack is needed!

Good idea! I can't work alone though! ;)

« Reply #23 on: January 04, 2019, 10:28 »
0
Hi. Here s stockcreations. After I filed a complaint with shutterstock my picture was removed. Only ... all other pictures and the contributor are still there ...

Brasilnut

  • Author Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock & Blog

« Reply #24 on: January 04, 2019, 11:18 »
+2
Yesterday I got in touch with him over facebook messenger. I won't post the full chat but in summary:

- "Oh sh"t, I got the files from my assistant..He said that they are genuine. It can't be possible. He is so faithful"

- "I will be in touch with after 2-4 hrs. I would like to know more about it & take proper steps." still waiting...

So that's it. To be continued...

 


 

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